§ MR. CORRANCEasked the First Lord of the Treasury, What steps have 598 been, or are being, taken to secure the rights of British Subjects possessing property within the territory recently ceded to the United States, under the Treaty of Washington; and, whether any understanding concerning the naturalization of such persons has been arrived at with the American Government?
MR. GLADSTONEThe hon. Member will excuse me if, in the first instance, I take exception to the terms of his Question, inasmuch as no territory has been, properly speaking, ceded in this case. To cede territory is to pass over from your own legitimate possession some territory into the possession of another Power. Now, the territory we have given over, or retired from, has been determined not to be in our legitimate possession, and therefore it has not been ceded. But I perfectly understand the hon. Member's meaning. Measures have been and are being taken, as far as the occasion demands, for securing the rights of British subjects possessing property in this territory. Before 1846 this territory was held absolutely in common between British and American subjects. Some number—I do not know what number—of British subjects held land in this territory, and they made a request some time ago that the officer who had been in command of the British detachment at San Juan might remain and give evidence as to their possession of the land in a proprietary character; consequently he was directed not to leave San Juan in order that he might readily be summoned if his evidence was required. As to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's Question—namely, whether any understanding concerning the naturalization of such persons has been arrived at with the American Government—I think it is probable the hon. Member may be under a misapprehension on that subject. As far as I am informed by our legal adviser in America there is no question concerning the possession of land in America which turns on the citizenship of the party claiming it. That being so, no question of naturalization need arise at all, according to the best information we have, in respect to this property. There is, however, a great facility in obtaining naturalization in America, and that will be a matter for the consideration of the parties themselves. Their proprietary rights will not be invalidated if they do 599 not think fit to claim naturalization; and if they do claim it, they will have no difficulty in obtaining it. I understand that some of these persons have already obtained naturalization.